How Do I Get Pregnant

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Sexual awareness, good knowledge of how the body works and plenty of involvement in the family life are necessary for a couple to successfully practice natural family planning. This kind of birth control is not easy, and both partners share the duty of getting information. The same methods used for the prevention of pregnancy can also be applied the other way round, when the couple is trying to conceive. Among the most common options here we can mention tests for ovulation, the monitoring of the cervical mucus, the basal temperature method, the standard days method, and even computer fertility tests and charts.

Natural family planning comes cheap and it is not difficult to understand and put into practice. Yet, it requires willingness to accept the eventual limitations of the method as well as good communication with the life partner. From the entire month, only ten days can be fertile, you just have to approximate which ones. Two choices are possible: not to have sex or use some other birth control method. Mention must be made that natural family planning does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, therefore, it should be used only if you know your partner very well. Condoms are the only ones that can stop STD.

For the efficient use of natural family planning, a woman has to interpret her fertility on a daily basis. Keep in mind that there are chances of getting pregnant even if you calculate your fertile and infertile days; consequently, consider alternative birth control if a pregnancy could be devastating for you. Therefore, if a possible pregnancy would not be such a disaster for you, natural family planning could be taken more lightly. The effectiveness of the method totally depends on how accurate and precise the woman is with the determination of the fertile period of the month.

Statistics indicate that in case of perfect usage, the effectiveness of natural family planning ranges between 95% and 98%, which is actually higher than that of oral contraceptives. Yet, if we are to discuss not the perfect user but the average user, the efficiency rate drops somewhere between 75% and 88%. These data are closer to reality because few people who use natural family planning, actually follow all the rules correctly.

Who relies on natural family planning? Such birth control choices enjoy a higher popularity within some communities because of some religious or cultural beliefs. There are also couples that prefer to stay natural and accept the potential risk of conceiving. In fact, for lots of people who try natural family planning, a baby would not be a problem or a mistake.

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Natural birth control depends on fertility awareness. Some people can’t or won’t use hormonal contraceptives and prefer natural family planning over other modern contraceptive solutions. The sympto-thermal method, the ovulation method, the standard days method or the rhythm method are just a few of the natural birth control options people rely on. Here is how each of these works.

The standard days method

The menstrual cycle is divided into three main periods according to the standard days method. Day number 1 is the first day of the period. There are very reduced chances of getting pregnant if you have sex between day 1 and day 8. Between day 9 and day 18, ovulation takes place and you are fertile. You should not have sex, or you should use another birth control method. Natural birth control is once again possible between day 20 and day 32.

The ovulation method

A woman can recognize when ovulation is about to begin by the changes in the cervical mucus, yet, it is often hard to tell. Ovulation usually takes place between the 9th and the 18th day of the menstrual cycle, with variations from woman to woman. If you prefer natural birth control, you can use the fertility tests available in drug stores to learn when you are most fertile, and use extra birth control during that period or abstain from sex.

The sympto-thermal method

The sympto-thermal method is both a natural birth control solution as well as an option for couples trying to conceive. It requires a careful monitoring of the changes in the body and it needs several months to reach a conclusion for the observation.

The big disadvantage of natural birth control is that it cannot offer any guarantees. There is a lot of unpredictable in the way a woman’s body behaves during the menstrual cycle, and many unplanned pregnancies appear as a result. If the menstrual pattern is regular, then the efficiency of natural birth control methods is very high, just like that of hormonal birth control. Talk to your physician about the options you have, and see what he/she advises for. Professional advice could simplify your choices a lot, and good information may save you from an unwanted pregnancy!

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Male birth control is considered a controversial issue for lots of reasons. A few years ago large pharmaceutical companies like Schering, Organon or Wyeth announced the production of hormonal birth control designed especially for men, but the results of their research hasn’t been finalized yet. Why? The market seems to be little receptive to male birth control shots or pills, and the investments in technologies are huge. Several programs have been abandoned for this reason, and it seems that drug companies don’t show any renewal in their interest for this kind of birth control products.

Statistics show a certain willingness on the part of men to use alternative forms of birth control. Normally, male birth control should consist of some form of testosterone shot or pill that would impair the production of sperm. A certain prejudice has been recognized with women because many are reluctant to trust men to follow such treatments. At present, vasectomy is the only viable male birth control solution besides the condom. How would hormonal birth control work for men?

The sperm production can be inhibited by the administration of testosterone and progestin; this male birth control solution would be totally reversible with no impact on fertility. The testosterone pill doesn’t work because the hormone is too rapidly metabolized by the liver. The solution seems to come from a monthly shot, or the combination of the ingredients in a topical products such as a cream. One third option is that of twice-a-year implants and although the procedures are invasive, they could be an alternative to women’s pill.

Between 10% and 15% of men have a low reaction to hormonal male birth control, which is quite a high inefficiency rate. Too many cells have to be blocked which certainly raises an issue. While with female hormonal treatments, the egg is the only cell that has to be blocked from ovulation, with male birth control, there are millions of spermatozoon that have to be inactivated. Race also seems to affect the efficiency of this birth control method although researchers don’t know why.

Last but not least, we should also briefly refer to condoms as the most commonly used form of male birth control. This is preferable for many couples around the world, as well as for people who change their sex partner often. It is the only birth control method that is non-invasive and protects against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

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Birth control helps couples prevent unwanted pregnancies, and some methods also provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Presently, there are solutions not only for women but also for men. The condom is definitely the most common form of birth control, particularly when you are not involved in a stable relationship. The birth control options vary depending on a number of elements that you can determine from the questions below.

Are you involved in a stable relationship?

How frequently do you change partners?

Do you want to have a baby?

Have you you evaluated your health condition?

How often do you have sex?

How efficient are the various birth control methods? Are there side effects?

Condoms should be the only form of birth control for people who have occasional sex, because this is the only way to stop the infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Only discuss other birth control methods with your partner if you are involved in a long term relationship.

The advantages and disadvantages of a birth control methods should be discussed with the health care provider. Some methods are totally safe and non-invasive while others pose some health hazards although minimal. People also base their choice of birth control methods on the efficiency rate. You should be aware of the fact that no birth control method other than abstinence (the choice of not having sex) has a 100% efficiency rate. Some people would even go to the length of combining several birth control methods to be certain that no unwanted pregnancy occurs.

The choice of a birth control method is very difficult for women in more special conditions. There are age problems when the female is too young or when she is too old reaching the perimenopause, health problems when some chronic disease prevents the use of regular birth control options or disabilities that make the challenges even more difficult to cope with.

Emergency contraception should also be mentioned as a form of birth control although it cannot be used on a regular basis. Two pills taken twelve hours apart can prevent unwanted pregnancies if used within maximum five days after the unprotected intercourse. The effect resembles that of regular hormonal birth control, even if the efficiency rate is between 75% and 85%. Emergency birth control has limitations and a higher exposure for adverse reactions.

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An easy to administrate contraceptive solution, the birth control shot makes a good choice for lots of couples all over the world. It has a slow-release form and it normally contains one type of hormone only: progesterone. During this period, there is no ovulation and no egg is released into the uterus.

In comparison with the hormonal pill, the birth control shot has a higher efficiency range. Only 3 out of 100 couples experienced unplanned pregnancy with the shot while for the pill the incidence is 8 in 100. Yet, if you wait longer than three months before you get the next shot, chances of getting pregnant are higher.

There is no protection against sexually transmitted diseases with the birth control shot. Plus, there are physiological changes that could be an inconvenience while using this birth control method. Here are some common side effects to the shot:
-irregular menstrual periods;
-headaches, breast tenderness and weight gain;
-depression and mood changes.

Overweight is the most difficult to fight back if it appears as a side effect, because hormonal imbalances are harder to correct. Other long-term side effects have been reported in relation to the use of the progesterone birth control shot. Thus, many women have developed osteoporosis by losing in bone density during the treatment.

In case you decide that the birth control shot is a good option for you, talk to your health care provider and make sure that your daily calcium intake is enough to support the hormonal treatment without loss of bone density. Moreover, fertility may be harder to recover after the long term use of the birth control shot. The fertility problem is not permanent, and women can recover in time, but difficulties could appear along the way.

We should also expose some health issues or conditions that make the use of the birth control shot problematic. Do not use the birth control shot if you suffer from any of the following:

-headaches;
-disorders with blood coagulation;
-unexplained vaginal bleeding;
-thrombosis;
-cancer;
-if you suspect a pregnancy.

As for costs, the birth control shot is not expensive, not to mention that health insurance usually covers the expenses. The best advice you can get related to the shot is at your doctor’s office.

Moreover, do not use other drugs or herbal supplements in parallel with the birth control shot because you could reduce the efficiency. If you must follow a medical treatment, then use some alternative birth control method.

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The birth control ring is a local device made of a soft and flexible material that is inserted in the vagina. It slowly releases hormones into the blood stream so as to influence the uterus and the ovaries and thus prevent pregnancy. The birth control ring contains two main ingredients: progesterone and estrogen, both with a role in the function of the reproductive system. The blockage of the ovulation means that no egg is released for fertilization. Another anatomical modification consist in the thickening of the cervical mucus and the changes in the uterine lining.

Insert the birth control ring in the vagina on the first day of your period and let it work for 21 days in a row before removing it. It should be removed on the same day of the week when it was inserted. Don’t use it for seven days more and the menstrual bleeding will occur. Then, the cycle continues. The similarity is very high with regular hormonal treatments. Yet, you should check the usage instructions carefully so as to make certain that you don’t overlook some detail. Mention must be made that the birth control ring is not efficient for the first seven days after the start of the treatment.

Either abstain from sexual intercourse or use a condom until the birth control ring becomes efficient. With this birth control method there is no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. As for the physical comfort, lots of girls and women wonder whether the ring will not be a problem. Normally, since the position in the vagina is not important, the ring can be placed as you consider more comfortable. Just as it happens with vaginal tampons, you should not even be aware of it. There is no need to remove it when bathing or swimming.

In terms of efficiency, the birth control ring acts similarly with the combined pills. Yet, you may not be able to use it if you suffer from certain health conditions. Only a health care provider can determine whether the birth control ring makes a good choice for you or not. The number of adverse reactions is lower for the birth control ring, yet, unpleasant symptoms are often reported. Mood changes, spotting, headaches and dizziness are a few of the regular reactions to the use of the birth control ring. Normally, after the transition period, the inconvenience should go away.

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There are so many birth control options, that people are often at a loss about what to choose. And there is nothing like professional advice under the circumstances. Here are the elements that require immediate consideration.

-age;
-health condition;
-the stability of your sex life;
-smoker or non-smoker;
-the efficiency of birth control options;
-plans to have children etc.

Birth control pills usually represent the most popular of birth control options. They are suitable for young women involved in stable relationships who have a good health condition. You should probably seek some other options if you have some medical problem, you are over 35 and you smoke.

Condoms make the only birth control options that provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. The efficiency rate of such birth control options is pretty high. There is nothing to worry about if you follow the usage instructions carefully and you buy latex condoms only.

Spermicides with or without a diaphragm ought to be introduced in the vagina at least a quarter of an hour before intercourse. Leave the diaphragm in the same place for six hours after intercourse, before removal. In comparison with hormonal birth control, spermicides are less efficient, even if supposedly, they kill the spermatozoon.

Hormonal patches represent other popular birth control options that many young women use. They are considered very efficient, with an action similar to that of the hormonal pill; yet, you do not have to remember to administer it daily, which saves the user from the inconvenience of skipping a pill. Nevertheless, there are side effects specific to hormonal birth control options, and you should be informed on them before beginning any treatment. Talk to a health care provider to get answers to all of your questions.

IUD or the intra-uterine device belongs to a different category of birth control options; it requires implantation in the uterus and it is pretty costly. The usage extent of one device can reach ten years, depending on technology and design. Such birth control options are not suitable for people who plan to have a child in a year or two.

There are other birth control options such as the method of the calendar, vasectomy, hysterectomy or voluntary sterilization. There are also innovative birth control options such as the male shot that inactivates the spermatozoon. Let’s not ignore the individual factor for such choices, because people have preferences for some birth control options over others.

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Many unplanned pregnancies occur because women lack information on the possible consequences of combining antibiotics and birth control pills. You can read a lot on antibiotics and birth control now thanks to the development of the Internet, but there are some very resilient myths out there. Scientific reality is nevertheless a bit different, and here are a few things that may help you better understand how things stand.

Clinical studies indicate that only one antibiotic is proved to impair the action of the hormonal pill: rifampin, yet exceptions do exist. Generally speaking, when antibiotics and birth control are used in parallel, the efficiency of the contraceptives gets lower in for a limited number of women. It is because of this incidence, even if small, that doctors recommend the use of a supplementary birth control solution such as condoms. It is impossible to tell who will experience decreased efficiency, until it is too late.

Modern hormonal products seem to be more affected by the interactions between antibiotics and birth control. The problem is that modern birth control products have very low hormonal combinations for a reduction of the side effects. Besides rifamin, you should also be cautious when using amoxacillin, penicillin, sulfonamide, ampicillin, minocycline, tetracycline and barbiturates.

Antibiotics and birth control pills represent an inconvenient medical combination because of the synthesis of the compounds in the liver. The antibiotics accelerate the breaking down of estrogens, and since these compounds are the main ingredients of birth control pills, the level of hormones in the blood will be lower. Although the situations when unplanned pregnancy appears in such conditions are not that numerous, caution is the best course of action.

All drug manufacturers will therefore mention the potential interference of antibiotics and birth control pills with the decrease of efficiency for the latter. It is also important to talk to the doctor whether you have to continue using the extra birth control method after the cessation of the antibiotic treatment or not.

It is not a solution to stop using birth control pills while taking antibiotics, because you will put the body through great stress by causing hormonal imbalances. Talk to the health care provider before taking any drug specifying the fact that you are on birth control pills. There are lots of other drugs that could impair the efficiency of birth control. It’s better to seek information than be sorry later.

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